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Jul 30, 2024 06:00am

Let’s Praise the Lord

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There was an old dog that had been injured when he was younger. The leg had healed and he was free to run and play, but he still favored that leg. People commented to the owners, “oh your poor dog, does he have a bad leg?”

“No, he’s healed, doc says it’s perfectly fine. But he just can’t get his mind on the same page.”

Acts 3:6-10
“Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”
7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.
8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.
9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God,
10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”

We covered a portion of this scripture yesterday focusing on the gift that Peter and John offered to the lame man. But today, we’re taking a closer look at the man, his reaction to what he received and the effect it had on others.

This man had been crippled from birth. The religious leaders of that day would have told you that it must have been because of a sin of the mother that he was born that way. He had no way to make a living except for to rely on the kindness of passersby. In the Jewish religion, giving money to the poor or disabled was called “alms” and considered to be praiseworthy. This man was smart and knew that the Jews would go to the temple 3 times a day to pray and they had to pass through the Beautiful Gate. So, he wisely had men carry him and set him by this gate to receive the generous gifts offered by the men that passed through.

That’s what he expected from Peter and John, but they offered him something even better. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, they healed this man.

And look at what happened!

It says, “immediately” he received strength and was healed. And what was his reaction to being healed?

“He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.”

Because of this miraculous event and his reaction, all those that were watching were amazed! It was so unbelievable yet they were seeing it with their own eyes! They had witnessed something remarkable!

And it made them want to know more…

Look around. Those that claim to be Christians, how do they react to their salvation?

Are we excited? Are we full of joy because of the healing God has done in our lives and the freedom we now have? Do we want to share it with others?

Or are we like that old dog, healed but still limping through life as if nothing has happened?

Has God saved you? Has He healed you from your brokenness and did He give you new life?

Why don’t we show it? Why don’t we share it?

I have received a beautiful gift of mercy from Jesus, one that I certainly don’t deserve and could never earn. I want you to have it too!

Psalm 150:6
“Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.”

Now let’s praise the Lord!